my oh my what a sore head I have. I was instructed not to listen to any of the tracks for a few days to get some perspective, so I bought a new pair of trousers, a new toaster and then went to get drunk in a quiet pub. Then I forgot to eat, beat someone from Noah and the Whale at darts, and starting offering to make toast for everyone. All in all quite a success.

The last couple of days were much like the rest of the week – extremely successful – tho no doubt you’re bored of hearing me say that and assume it’s some sort of marketing hyperbole. The truth is I think it has the makings of a great record, but I really don’t know. Is the music authentic? commercial? both? is there a great single? will anyone like it? should I care? I can … Read the rest

Mixed feelings as we enter the last couple of days in this main studio stint. Pleased to have most of the album down, but a little sad that this phase is almost over. After this will be a tricky period of overdubbing and fine tuning exactly what sounds make it on to the mix stage. I can’t wait to hold the finished mixes in my hand – after that it’ll be time to have some meetings to make things happen with it.

We’ve tackled most of the band songs first cos we can only get them down here. Now it’s time for getting down versions of the acoustic stuff – This City, Eyes, Ferris Wheel – though they won’t necessarily stay solo acoustic.

One of the things I’m most pleased with is not just the recordings – which to my ears sound in a different league to anything I’ve ever … Read the rest

more snow! And what does this mean? That’s right – it means John loses a bet about whether he’s allowed to play double bass on Solitude. Thank you weather gods!

Everyone’s feeling good – it’s tough working 12 hour days every day for a week – especially for layabout musicians! It’s incredibly intense. We’ve really broken the back of it all now though and the mood in the studio has been great all week. It’s amazing how well we all get along in fact – our personalities all fit together.

Many Fish To Fry was always the track everyone was most worried about getting down because it’s quite complex to record, but in the end we got it sounding fantastic by early evening. It’s like an epic slightly Irish singalong about the infinitely varied futures we could have. I’ve never really liked the idea of fate. I’m fairly sure it’ll … Read the rest

In a crazy rush today so gonna have to be quick!

Bit of a disjointed day, but certainly not an unsuccessful one. Freddie Laid The Smack Down grooves along really nicely – that song’s been a bit of a surprise to be honest and I’m really pleased with it. Also tackled Inside My Mind – a bit slower than before and pretty intense. Calum in particular was excellent yesterday – his guitar tone on Freddie was just magical, and he was using a high-strung guitar on Inside My Mind to make sounds I’m not used to acoustic guitars making. Beautiful.

Evening was a touch more tricky – we’ve been having an ongoing battle with what to do with Ferris Wheel. It’s always such a live favourite, but what should a studio version sound like? With a band some of the guitar percussion just makes it messy – so do you … Read the rest

YES! Another excellent day. Not only are we speeding along at a great rate, we’re not compromising in the least with what we’re getting. It’s sounding absolutely lush.

Feet Don’t Fail Me Now to kick off the day, and we had to track instruments individually but it all slotted together really well. These first sessions are just to get down the core of the tracks with vocals and other overdubs to be done later in the month, so it’s all about getting the instrumental heart of the track perfect. FDFMN is absolutely pounding along.

Pondering On  A Scenario In Which I Am The Hero was my highlight of the day I think. Just some glorious sounds from everyone. This band all compliments each other so beautifully.

Lastly we pretty much finished I Saw Something which sounds like a whole new song now.

If you’re wondering why I’m re-recording these when … Read the rest

It’s so important with these things to get off  to a good start. If you have a bad first day it can set you back for the rest of your schedule. That really puts you under unnecessary pressure which isn’t always a good mental space to be in to record music.

Luckily we got off to a great start despite a little issue with separating the drum sound. Our target is 2-3 tracks per day and we managed to set up all the equipment, wire everything up, deal with the drum issue and get two fantastic sounding tracks down so I’m thrilled. All & Forever just thumps along and has a real nice mix of grooves – part hillbilly rock, part ska, part something else. Reeling was sounding gorgeous – this band have an uncanny ability to get an instinctive feel for a track.

Roll on day two….… Read the rest

So this month is named after Janus, the two-headed Roman god of beginnings and endings. What’s beginning or ending with you? I really like the idea of perpetual beginning, I keep meaning to write a song about it.

My goals for 2010 are to wear nice cosy jumpers where appropriate, be more like the character ‘Mac’ from Green Wing, be less self-centered, worry less about money, and be more open with people. Oh and I want to use fewer suggestive sexual images to get people’s attention. Sorry Sam.

Plus I want to make a record that’s really smokin’. We start tomorrow – I’ll keep you posted.

x… Read the rest